Class Notes

Mount Vernon, Ohio Jim’s belief in engineering education will long endure thanks to a scholarship named in his honor. In January, Jim’s daughter, Karen Buchwald Wright, announced a $1.5 million gift to endow a full scholarship for an undergraduate student from Ohio attending the Case School of Engineering. Karen recently stepped down as president and CEO of Ariel Corp., which her father founded in 1966 and built into the world’s largest manufacturer of separable reciprocating gas compressors. Long retired, Jim continues to support community causes in his beloved Mount Vernon.

Olmsted Falls, Ohio Bruce was inducted into the NASA Glenn Research Center Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2021. The center’s most patented inventor, Bruce made significant contributions to NASA’s efforts in electric propulsion, thin-film coatings, surface texturing, and atomic oxygen protection. He also found an array of uses for these technologies in the private sector.

Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania Julie has retired from Merck after 12 years with the pharmaceutical giant, where she most recently served as executive vice president of population health and sustainability. In March, she announced she has accepted the role of CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Julie was the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2002 to 2009, the first woman to hold the position. Over her career, she has been included in Forbes magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year.

Santa Rosa, California Steve has retired as the global business development manager for Keysight Technologies. His career as an electrical engineer, sales manager, and senior executive at numerous companies included 27 years working for Hewlett-Packard and its spinoff Agilent Technologies.

Cleveland Heights, Ohio Kandice has opened Marchant Manor Cheese on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, where she makes and sells artisan cheeses. Wisconsin-born and raised, Kandice earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in materials science from Case Institute of Technology and then her medical degree from the CWRU School of Medicine. She became a pathologist at Cleveland Clinic and eventually Chair of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute — the first woman at Cleveland Clinic to head a clinical institute. She now happily calls herself the Cheese Doctor.

Spencer, Ohio

Andy was appointed to the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the county’s community resource for coordinating and funding services for people with developmental disabilities. “The major incentive which prompted me to apply for a seat on the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities was the strong impact the agency has had on my son Patrick,” he said in a press release. “MCBDD programs have allowed him to be independent and function extremely well within the community.”

Frederick, Maryland

Joannie was named Director of the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where she was formerly deputy director. She leads a staff of more than 400 charged with developing measurement science for critical national needs. Joannie earned her bachelor’s degree in polymer science and macromolecular engineering at Case Institute of Technology and her doctorate at Virginia Tech.

Cleveland, Ohio

Cindy is a senior electrical engineer for The Austin Co., one of the nation’s oldest design-build contractors, headquartered in suburban Cleveland. She’s also an instrument-rated private pilot. Cindy earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Case Institute of Technology.

Strongsville, Ohio

Jon has started a new position as Branch Chief at the NASA Glenn Research Center. A research physi-cist for NASA for 30 years, he’s one of the few NASA employees to be a two-time Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) winner. Jon earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in materials science and engineering at Case School of Engineering.

Ron Jezerinac ’93 Jupiter, Florida

Ron reflected on his days as a standout basketball player for CWRU (1989-1993) as today’s Spartans made their improbable run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Division III Tournament. “I wish someone would have told me to slow down a little bit. Survey our team and the other team more. Think your way through the game a little more,” he told The Daily, CWRU’s online newsroom. Ron is the founder and president of the Jezerinac Group, a structural engineering firm in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Shaker Heights, Ohio Scott has been promoted to co-CEO at Telos Alliance, a Cleveland manufacturer of audio products and systems for broadcasters. Previously, he was chief operating officer at the global company. Scott earned his Case degrees in electrical engineering.

Emory, Virginia Rob is the new Chief Information Officer at Emory & Henry College in Virginia. Previously, he was CIO at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi. Rob earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Case School of Engineering and is a member of the board of directors of the Case Alumni Association.

Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

Peter recently travelled to Oświęcim, Poland, to help One Humanity Institute repair and furnish housing and community spaces for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion — and to help hand out thousands of Teddy bears to Ukrainian children. To support his Ukrainian relief efforts, go to www.onehumanity.institute/ house-of-hope/.

Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Aaron was named “One of 20 People to Know in Engineering” by the Pittsburgh Business Times. He’s an Engineering Group Manager and Civil Practice Lead at Sci-Tek, a Pittsburgh engineering, surveying, and consulting firm, where he oversees a team of civil engineers, designers, and drafters. Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Case.

North Royalton, Ohio Ketal is the co-founder and CTO of Vitalxchange, a digital platform that helps parents and caregivers of special needs children find guidance and resources. Previously he was an engineering director for Medtronic and software development manager for CardioInsight, a Case-connected startup. Ketal earned his master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the Case School of Engineering.

Chagrin Falls, Ohio Ted was named one of Cleveland’s Top 500 Leaders, Doers, Visionaries & Idea Generators by Cleveland Magazine. He’s the president of Otero Signature Homes. Asked what he would tell his 16-year-old self, he told the magazine: “Hug your grandparents because you will miss them when they are gone.” Ted earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Case.

West Hartford, Connecticut Xinsheng started the new year as the volunteer leader of the Industries and Sciences Department of ISA, the International Society of Automation, which sets industry standards and engages automation professionals. A control technologist for GE Power, Xinsheng earned his doctorate in systems and controls engineering at the Case School of Engineering.

Hershey, Pennsylvania Cheryl has started a new position as the Associate Director for Population Science at the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the Penn State College of Medicine. Previously, she taught and served administrative roles at the CWRU School of Medicine for a dozen years. Cheryl earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer engineering from Case School of Engineering and her doctorate in genetic and molecular epidemiology from CWRU.

Cleveland, Ohio

Ayonna is the new Vice President and Ohio Market Lead for Enterprise Community Partners, a nationwide nonprofit that helps to place people in healthy, affordable homes, often through rehabilitation projects. Previously, she was the Director of the Department of Building and Housing for the City of Cleveland. A lawyer and an engineer, Ayonna earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Case School of Engineering. She was president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Vancouver, British Columbia Levon has been awarded the Buchalter Cosmology Prize, which recognizes “ground-breaking theoretical, observational, or experimental work in cosmology.” He and his collaborator, Karsten Jedamzik, won first prize for their research on relieving the Hubble tension with primordial magnetic fields. The Hubble tension, one of cosmology’s greatest puzzles, concerns the apparent difference in the Hubble constant — or how fast the universe is expanding today — determined using different types of observations. The pair showed how to reconcile the difference by accounting for magnetic fields in the early universe. Levon is a Professor of Physics at Simon Fraser University.

New York, New York Daniel has been named Chief Data and Analytics Officer at M2GEN, a bioinformatics company that applies data and analytics to oncology research. Previously he was the chief scientific officer at Covera Health. Daniel has spent his career at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and data science. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in biomedical engineering at the Case School of Engineering.

Middleburg Heights, Ohio Abdou is the Managing Director of Paragon Shift, a data analytics and AI solutions firm he founded in 2010. He started his career with Deloitte Consulting in Cleveland, working with clients in the Americas and Europe, and later transferred to the Deloitte Middle East practice, based in Beirut, Lebanon. A private pilot and a licensed scuba diver, Abdou speaks and consults around the world on topics related to data analytics and AI solutions.

Arlington, Virginia

Chicago, Illinois

Tawny is a Specialty Account Manager at CVS Health, where she helps to bring specialty drugs to market. The job that keeps her most busy, she reports, is being a wife to Babajide and mother to “two beautiful boys,” Joshua and Tatum. Whenever possible, she loves to bake and work with youth. Lauren is now a Program Manager for Satellite Servicing at Northrop-Grumman, where she is leading two programs focused on refueling spacecraft in orbit. Previously, she was the Operations Manager for a portfolio of 13 National Security Space programs in Denver. Lauren earned her master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Case and serves on the board of directors of the Case Alumni Association and the Industry Advisory Board for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Sheffield Village, Ohio Ran is a hardware engineer for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems in Elyria, Ohio. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering at Case, where he was a ThinkEnergy Fellow with the Great Lakes Energy Institute.

Cleveland Heights, Ohio Tim has been promoted to vice president of operations at Cotsworks, a Cleveland-based designer and manufacturer of rugged fiber optical materials for harsh environments. Previously he was its director of strategic initiatives and director of manufacturing technologies. Tim is an Eagle Scout and an assistant scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America.

Cleveland, Ohio

Matt has assumed a new position as Regional Manager for Parker Hannifin Corp., the global leader in motion and control technologies. Previously, he was business development manager and a product sales manager for the hydraulic valve division. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at Case while playing football for the Spartans.

Send your updates, including photos, about job promotions, professional development and personal milestones to casealum@casealum.org.

Canton, Michigan

Spencer is an exterior design engineer for Nissan Motors at its North America Technical Center, where he started as an intern in 2014. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Case, where he was a member of the Emerging Scholars Program and the varsity basketball team.

Cleveland, Ohio

Kristina was selected as a finalist in the 2022 K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. She’s a member of the inaugural cohort of AAC&U’s Future Leaders Society, which recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education. Kristina, the former president of the Case Amateur Radio Club, is pursuing her doctorate at Case in electrical engineering.

Cleveland, Ohio

Jing has joined Brite Energy Innovators as entrepreneur programs director. The Warren, Ohio, accelerator focuses on early-stage companies in the energy sector. She previously was a project manager of Allganize and a project control analyst for Nexus Engineering, both based in Cleveland. Jing also founded her own company, EcoSpinners, while earning her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at Case.

Cleveland, Ohio

Santiago has joined Avery Dennison as a team manager. Previously, he was a manufacturing operations supervisor for SherwinWilliams in Garland, Texas. He came to Case from Cleveland’s Max Hayes High School through the Envoys Program of the Case School of Engineering. Santiago earned dual degrees in chemical engineering and chemistry.

Chicago, Illinois

Shivank has joined Cardinal Commerce as a program manager for product commercialization and delivery. Previously, he was a project manager for Hyland Software in Cleveland. Shivank earned his master’s of engineering and management at the Case School of Engineering. His community service led to him being honored as a Civic Engagement Scholar by CWRU.

Union City, California Preethi is now a technical program manager for Argo, a Palo Alto company that develops selfdriving technology for automakers. Previously, she was a technical program manager for Iron Ox, a sustainable food producer, and for the autonomous vehicle program of Uber. Preethi earned her master’s of engineering and management at the Case School of Engineering.

Dearborn, Michigan Chioma has joined Cardinal Commerce as a technical product manager. Previously, she was a compliance analyst for Wells Fargo. Chioma also leads the African fashion platform Chimu, which she founded while a student at Case. In January, she discussed her experience in cultural entrepreneurship as part of the CWRU Entrepreneurship Speaker Series.

Canfield, Ohio

Janet has been named to the ASTM International board of directors, where she will share her materials expertise. She is a research biomedical engineer and investigator in the Advanced Platform Technology Center at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and a senior research associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Case. Janet, an ASTM member since 2012, earned her doctorate in materials science and engineering.

Lauren Homack ’19 Youngstown, Ohio

Lauren joined Ellwood Aluminum as a metallurgical engineer at its new casting shop in Hubbard, Ohio, after completing a metallurgical engineering development program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering at Case and was an All UAA Academic Honoree on the varsity swim team.

Long Beach, California Khaylin has joined Boeing as an associate sustainable commercial aircraft design and analysis engineer. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering at Case, where he was a Gates Scholar and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Boston, Massachusetts Zoe is a field service engineer for Rockwell Automation. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Case, where she was president of the Women in Science and Engineering Roundtable and a member of the Humanitarian Design Corps.

New Paltz, New York

Isabel is a bridge engineer at Modjeski and Masters in Poughkeepsie, New York. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering at Case, where she was the design lead on the Steel Bridge Team that went to the national championships.

Pasadena, California Menghong is a Mac MLB reliability engineer for Apple. She earned her doctorate in macromolecular science and engineering at Case, where she was a member of the inaugural class of the CWRU chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu, the honor society of materials scientists.

Cleveland, Ohio

Connor joined Howmet Aerospace as a metallurgist on its quality assurance team. He interned at Howmet while earning his bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering. He also helped his classmates as a Peer Advisor for the Case School of Engineering.

Columbus, Ohio

Ryan is a graduate teaching associate at Ohio State University, where he is pursuing his doctorate in physics and exploring high energy theory. He earned his bachelors’ degrees in mathematics and physics at Case while also earning a bachelor’s degree in music through the CWRU Department of Music. While at Case, Ryan won the Albert A. Michelson Prize for physics and played trumpet with the jazz band Blue Theory.

Cleveland, Ohio

Julie is a manufacturing engineer at TYLOK Fittings & Valves, where she interned while earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. A sister of Alpha Chi Omega at CWRU, Julie served on the leadership team of the Women in Science and Engineering Roundtable.

Columbus, Ohio

Dean Cookson ’21 Denver, Colorado

Dean received his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in January, 35 years after starting classes at Case Institute of Technology. Before completing his senior project, he enjoyed a wide-ranging career as a computer programmer and technology executive that included CIO and CTO roles at the likes of Snapfish, Virgin America, and Red Robin restaurants. On Nov. 8, 2021, he returned to campus and delivered his senior project presentation, titled “How I Spent My Last 30 Summers.” Emma recently passed the FE Civil exam and received her Engineer Intern certification, putting her on track to becoming a professional engineer. She is an engineer-in-training at Gresham Smith. Emma earned her bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at Case.

Class Notes are generated by personal submissions as well as by news releases, public announcements, and LinkedIn postings. If you have news to share, please send your professional and personal updates to caselum@casalum.org.